entrée

noun

en·​trée ˈän-ˌtrā 

also än-ˈtrā

variants or entree

1

a

: the act or manner of entering : entrance

b

: freedom of entry or access

2

: the main course of a meal in the U.S.

Did you know?

The culinary sense of entrée can be traced back to 18th-century Britain. In those days a formal dinner could include not only the principal courses of soup, fish, meat, and dessert, but also an impressive array of side dishes. Between the fish and meat courses would come a small side dish, and because this secondary dish came immediately before the centerpiece of the meal, it was called the entrée, being, in effect, the entrance to the really important part of the meal. As dining habits have changed, meals have become simpler, and fewer courses are served. However, in the US, the course following the appetizer continued to be called the entrée, perhaps because it is a French word, and anything French always sounds elegant.

Synonyms of entrée

• access
• entry
• admission
• accession
• entrance

Examples of entrée in a Sentence

We had steak as an entrée.

entrée to the country club is through sponsorship by someone who is already a member

Recent Examples on the Web

The casual American eatery in midtown offers small shareables and hefty entrees alongside its signature pizzas. —Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025

Each adult with a valid entree can bring up to six kids for free. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025

The chain is currently offering a Grinch Meal, which comes with an entree, dill pickle McShaker fries, a drink and collectible socks. —Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 28 Dec. 2025

Mini pot pies are a delicious way to prepare comforting, individualized entrees, while also using up that leftover pie dough. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025

Sides like garlicky broccoli rabe, hand-cut fries, and Brussels sprouts with hot honey and Cap'n Crunch cereal (a quirky but popular dish) round out the menu alongside pastas, small plates and entrees of meatballs and pork Milanese. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025

In addition to the snack cups, the menu will have full entrees, such as a Double High Protein Bowl and High Protein-High Fiber Bowl. —Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

The dinner menu features a raw bar with oysters, and a variety of classic steakhouse entrees, like salmon, short rib, lobster and, of course, different types of steak. —Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 17 Dec. 2025

Create a chicken entree instead. —Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French entrée, from Old French — more at entry

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

entrée

noun

en·​trée

variants or entree

ˈän-ˌtrā 

1

: the main dish of a meal

2

a

: entrance entry 1 sense 1

b

: freedom of entry

Etymology

from French entrée "act or manner of entering"